My great kids

My kids are such an inspiration to me. They are so far ahead of me at their young ages. Derek has completed all of his requirements (a while ago) for his Duty to God award. His birthday is not even until the end of August. Most of the time he would ask to have me help him with his Article of Faith memorization and other goals. I rarely had to remind him. He was so excited to get it done and do the great goals that were in the booklet. He truly amazes me. He is such a light and ray of sunshine, he is the literal silver lining when ever there is a cloud or storm in our life. His strength in this area surpasses anyone I know.

Hannah has passed all of her Young Woman requirements off when she was a beehive. She is an extremely self motivated girl even by adult standards. The only requirement she has left to pass off before she gets her medallion is to read the entire Book of Mormon. The kids and I arte choosing to study it rather than speed read it so we can more fully enjoy the feast rather than just merely snack. Both kids really enjoy this and often times are disappointed when we have to stop reading and discussing end learning to go to bed. This attitude is MILES ahead of where I was at there age and my Dad was one of the most favorite seminary teachers ever. So I had a great opportunity to learn from an amazing teacher. I am grateful for my parents great example to me.

Great game day

We had an amazing game day together. The kids & I went bowling together and had a great time laughing so hard and just being together. We invited a neighbor boy that is a best friend of Derek's, his name is Sam. Bowling is such a fun affordable sport. We spent less than $14.

Later Sam brought over some board games and the kids & I played a Harry Potter Scene It game. We all love Harry Potter so it made it all the more fun. I sure do love spending time with my kids. We have so much fun together.

We also love taking Koda for walks and being able to talk and just be together getting a little exercise. We have so many good talks that way. I am grateful my kids like spending time with me and that I love spending time with them.

Magic at Disneyland

Inside "The World of Disney" store. This is a great store.

Outside a fun Disney store together.

This is truly an amazing place for Derek, he LOVES Legos! I was so glad we could go here.

Derek, I am your Father!

Derek and his old pal, Woody, and even better, made of LEGOS!

Outside of the Monsters Inc. ride. This is one of my favorite shows. We were able to literaly run on this ride several times in a row.

This is always a favorite of ours, very silly. We love and truly appreciate the need for silly.

Inside of the Beast's Castle. This was a new area for us to discover and enjoy together. We will definately go back.

We're so excited, Wahoo!

Outside of the big Cinderella's castle

These pictures are new pictures for our many Disney adventures. Hannah wanted to capture these little miniature homes/castels/etc for us, thank you Hannah

Pinochio's town, beautiful mounains in the back.

Darn, I put this in sideways, sorry. Cinderella's castle. This would be amazing to go and explore and get lost in.

Cinderella's first home with her terrible wicked step Mother.

What a palace! Princess Jasmine and Aladdin. Wouldn't that be fun to go and explore.

Hannah captured the famous "Rabbit Hole" that Alice went down. Thank you Hannah.

We love the Story Book Ride. It would be fun to be able to shrink ourselves down and go into all the homes they have in the ride. Just another way Disney helps our imagination to grow.

Derek in the Tea Cups, not a ride that I can do and feel Disney after. If you know what I mean.

Wow, what great luck. Our Fairy Godmother. It would sure be nice to take her with us back home!

We were so excited to get this picture with Ariel. All the times we have been to Disney we have never seen her. Such a great time.

Arrgghh Pirate Derek, Pirate Mom, and Pirate Hannah. We have a lot of fun dressing up in the Disney costumes. Hopefully another fun tradition to continue and great memores for the kids to enjoy as they need to reflect on happy moments in their lives. We all need to good memories to draw on when times are not so "Disney" I hope that my kids will be able to recall and use these memoris and many other others that we have had together when they are in times of pain and help them to get back to a better place.

Right outside of Adventure Land, let the fun begin.

One of our many traditions the kids and I enjoy together. We always try to find a fire truck in the different states/cities/places we are at. I'm so glad I can record it, so many times traditions and memories are lost as we grow up and it is so helpful to be able to remember good times and have gratitude for them.

California Adventure under construction. We are excited to come back to see what the the imangineers have come up with for us to enjoy.

Just at the beginning of our time in another place, another world, without meanness, without unkindness, with beauty, laughter, smiles, singing and endless immagination.

I love Goofy, and I love people who are like Goofy.

With one of our favorite people, Mickey. I don't think we will ever get tired of this mouse.

Derek making his very first Disney Light Saber. Although definately not his fist Light Saber. He still loves this very much. He sure is an appreciative boy. I hope this characteristic will stay with him as he gets older. i think this is a very overlooked attribute that should be cultivated MUCH more especially with our own family members.

Derek is becoming quite the photographer, he took this picture of Hannah and i with the statue of the White Rabbit.

I love Derek's pose, yet again, making it easy to love him and a joy to be around him. This is one of Hannah's heros and favorite people, Walt Disney

We just loved the topiary (sp?) of the swans. I love the topiary that is all over Disney Land grounds. The grounds are very beautiful. I once read that Disney wanted his guests to feel as though they had left the real world and entered into another. I guess if you keep your child sense of wonder and belief this is exactly what happens.

One of Hannah's all time favorite movies/books of all times. Alice in Wonderland. This was a great ride.

Infront of the Matter Horn

At the Buz Light Year ride, Astro Blaster, a big favorite with us. We were able to run on the ride quite a bit without having to wait in line. We were very lucky. Although I must say that I timed it that way. I have read books and checked to see when the least busy times are so that we can get the most "bang for our buck"

Zurg, curse you Derek will never go to the Dark side, he likes being happy too much!

Adventure Indiana Jones style

Hannah and i having fun dressing up Indiana Jones style

Derek loves to pose, he sure does have a way to enjoy things to the fullest. His enjoyment of life is so catching and makes him so much fun to be around. This was in front of the Haunted Mansion. We love the Disney was of being scared.

Hannah and her Winnie the Pooh friends.

Eeyore and the kids. My kids are definately not Eeyores.

I love this picture of Hannah and Tigger

With an old Disney friend who reminds me much of my kids.

With one of Hannah's favorite Disney friends.

With some very good friend, Jesse, and Woody. We were so lucky to see so many Disney Characters and get so so many pictures with them. We were so blessed to have so many great memories that we can keep recorded to reflect back on when ever we need help to be happy.

Right outside of the Thunder Mountain. Such a beautiful day.

On the back side of Cinderella's Castle. Right in Fantasy Land. Such a wonderful day.

In front of Small World, we sure do love this ride. It is even beautiful before you get on the ride.

In front of the Matter Horn ride.

He's breakin out!

Derek clowning around in Toon Town having loads of fun.

We are in Toon Town, just before getting on the Roger Rabbit ride. We love this ride. One time it broke down while we were on the ride. The lights turned on and we got to walk around the ride and see things without the black lights on, we were escorted of course and unfortunately were not able take pictures but it was still kind of cool to see the ride "behind the scenes."